The Federal Government has issued a warning about potential severe flooding along Rivers Niger and Benue, urging residents to prepare and stay informed to mitigate the impact.

The likelihood of river flooding on the Niger and Benue rivers has been highlighted by Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation. He stated that a significant amount of water is currently moving towards the Niger Delta area through these rivers.

At a press briefing in Abuja on Friday about the flooding situation in Maiduguri, Borno State, the minister emphasized the need for vigilance and proactive measures to prevent future flooding incidents occurring in southern Nigeria.

The overflow of water from the Alau Dam, situated approximately 10 kilometers away from Maiduguri city center was identified as the primary cause of flood disaster in Borno State’s Jere and Maiduguri areas. This occurred due to a considerable influx through Ngadda River, which is an essential contributor to the Yedzaram river system.

The speaker cited the Annual Flood Outlook report for 2024 from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, which identified regions in the country with high, moderate, and low flood risks. The publication included Borno, Bauchi, Jigawa Taraba Yobe Benue Gombe and several other states among its list of 31 high-risk areas.

The overwhelming flood that impacted the regions of Maiduguri and Jere in Borno State was primarily caused by excessive water discharge from Alau Dam. Situated roughly 10 kilometres away from Maiguduri’s city centre, it resulted due to a significant influx flowing through Ngadda River, which is one of the important tributaries leading into Yedzaram River.

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“My Ministry’s Head of Agencies and Parastatals, the Minister of State Bello Goronyo, and I went to Maiduguri to show support for the Governor of Borno State. Our aim was also to evaluate how much damage had been done by the flood.”

“As we grieve over the devastating impact of floods in states such as Borno, Yobe, Jigawa and Bauchi among others, I would like to draw attention to the looming threat of river flooding that could affect Rivers Niger and Benue together with some of their tributaries.”

There is a noteworthy surge in water levels observed on these rivers, approaching the red alert level. Such an indication clearly implies that a massive quantity of water is making its way towards the delta region through our rivers.

He stressed the importance of staying alert and enhancing readiness measures to tackle potential flooding in the southern region of the nation.

He stated, “Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that the report submitted by the Presidential Committee on Preventing Flood Disasters in Nigeria has been prepared. The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation served as Chair of its Steering Committee.”

The report proposed 10 strategic domains to combat the annual flooding crisis in Nigeria, including pertinent measures that account for necessary actions preceding, during and after a flood.

The approved recommendations comprise responsible agencies, expected outcomes, timelines and indicative costs. The gracious approval of Mr President has allotted a sum of ₦108 billion to address the recurring flood issue in all 36 states across the nation.

My plea in the wake of this calamity is that all sub-national authorities and concerned parties pay close attention to flood alerts shared by the Ministry. Preventive measures must be adopted without delay to avert future flooding, while emergency relief efforts ought to be initiated promptly for afflicted individuals’ benefit.